Facet Joint Pain Treatment

Facet joints are one of the most common sources of low back pain. The facet joints are the areas in the spine where vertebrae communicate. These joints are almost constantly in motion as the body goes from one movement to another, which places them at high risk for severe wear and bone spur development over the years. This wear can lead to the development of osteoarthritis, reduced mobility, and increased back pain. This pain can be relatively minor or can become debilitating.

Regenerative Medicine Treatment Options

The complex and delicate nature of the spine once meant that there was no available cure for problems with back pain related to the facet joints. Temporary solutions such as chiropractic treatments, cortisone shots, and medications could alleviate the pain and stiffness for a time, but do nothing to address the root cause of pain. The most serious cases require surgical interventions such as bone fusion.

These techniques, however, are very difficult to perform and could even worsen the condition.

Advancements in the fields of science and regenerative medicine have introduced new options for nonsurgical treatment of facet joint pain. The National Institute of Regenerative Medicine has played a large role in the development cell-based treatments, which can not only ease the pain in worn facet joints but also work to regenerate the damaged joints.

Cell Injections for Facet Joints & Back Pain

Treating facet joint pain with cell-based therapy can involve separating certain cells from the patient’s bone marrow and then injecting these cells into the damaged tissue where they help to repair the damaged structure. Cell injections can be followed by injections of Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP), which helps direct the cells to the location of injury and aid in the repair processes.

Cell-based injections for back pain involve very little discomfort and are generally performed with only local anesthetic. The procedure represents far less danger than invasive spinal surgery and may provide noticeable results within only a few weeks. Actual repair of the tissue is completed within two or three months of the initial cell and PRP injections.

Patients need not suffer from the pain and limited mobility of inflamed and arthritic facet joints. Cell-based and regenerative medicine can offer tremendous benefits and should be considered before more dangerous, invasive measures such as spinal fusion surgery.

Please note that while the above conditions represent most of those that we treat using either PRP injections or PRP injection in conjunction with cell-based injections, the specific method of treatment will be based on your age and health at the time of treatment, the severity of a patient’s condition and other factors. Learn if you are eligible for treatment.